THE MIAMI SERIES OF SOILS. 25 



place of wheat in the rotation, and yields of 15 to 25 bushels, with 

 an average of about 18 bushels per acre are secured. 



Barley is probably more extensively grown on the Miami fine 

 sandy loam than any other small grain except oats. Yields of 20 

 to 30 bushels per acre are secured, and the grain is of excellent qual- 

 ity. Both rye and barley do better than wheat on this type. 



The area devoted to hay production varies widely in the different 

 sections where the Miami fine sandy loam is encountered. In south- 

 eastern Michigan probably one-third of the total area of the type 

 produces some form of hay. Timothy and clover are most com- 

 monly seeded, especially on the dairy and stock farms. In such 

 cases the hay is cut for one or two years, and the mowing land is 

 then pastured for one year before being plowed for corn or some 

 other intertilled crop. Where red clover is seeded alone the first 

 crop is usually cut for hay and the second crop matured for seed. 

 The yields of hay are good on all the type except the most sandy 

 or the eroded areas. Yields of 1^ to 2 tons of mixed hay per acre 

 are common. The yield of clover is usually about the same. In 

 addition to the portion of the mowing land which is annually pas- 

 tured, a large part of the more rolling areas of the Miami fine sandy 

 loam is in permanent pasture. This natural pasture consists largely 

 of Canada bluegrass (June grass) and white clover. It usually 

 constitutes good pasturage during the early part of the season, but has 

 a tendency to become dry and unpalatable in mid-summer. 



Beans constitute a cash crop quite generally grown on the Miami 

 fine sandy loam in southern and southeastern Michigan. The crop 

 is planted either on sod land or following corn. The common 

 navy bean is most extensively grown, the yields ranging from 12 

 to 20 bushels per acre, with a general average of about 15 bushels. 

 The beans are thrashed and sold to the cleaner, while the bean straw 

 and refuse beans are commonly fed to sheep. 



Early Irish potatoes constitute another special crop of importance 

 on the Miami fine sandy loam. It is the usual practice to plant the 

 potato crop on sod land, clover sod being preferred. The yields 

 secured range from 60 to 150 bushels per acre, with an average of 

 about 100 bushels. Growers who are particularly careful with the 

 cultivation and fertilization of the crop easily exceed this average. 

 Potatoes are commonly grown in small patches chiefly for home use, 

 with a small surplus for market. In some parts of southern Wiscon- 

 sin, however, they constitute the chief cash crop on the Miami fine 

 sandy loam. The field shown in Plate IV, figure 1, indicates the 

 diversity of crops grown on this soil. 



Throughout southern Michigan, and to a less extent in southern 

 Wisconsin, on nearly every farm located on or containing a con- 

 55S13°— Bull. 142—14 4 



